15 Most Reliable Cars To Buy, Rated by Mechanics
The internet has proven to be a great resource for shoppers who can research products and services on the web before actually paying for them. Auto shoppers routinely look up reliability scores from online sources like Consumer Reports and JD Power.
Since these organizations base their ratings primarily on owner feedback and opinions, an increasing number of people express valid reasons why they don’t trust such scores. Automobile mechanics also serve as a wealth of insights into the reliability of specific models because they have firsthand, professional experience from servicing those cars.
Mechanics deal directly with cars’ inner workings on a daily basis, while CR and JD Power use aggregated data and surveys to generate reliability scores. While not dismissing the ratings from consumer intelligence agencies like CR, it doesn’t hurt to tap the experience, expertise, and industry knowledge of auto technicians.
These 15 cars have consistently earned the love of mechanics for their durability and low maintenance costs.
Dodge Challenger
It’s just as well that the Challenger is first on this list because it is a prime example of the disconnect that sometimes exists between “predicted reliability scores” and direct technical experience. The 2023 Dodge Challenger received a JD Power predicted reliability score of 85 out of 100, considered a “Great” score in the rankings.
However, mechanics see things a little differently. In fact, mechanics voted the Challenger among the most durable cars in 2024, and the used models have a solid reputation for dependability, going by the rounds on online communities.
Kia Niro EV
Kia models are trusted in countries or regions where sourcing for parts isn’t a problem. The 2024 Niro Electric model got an “about average” reliability rating from Consumer Reports, but its reliability story gets much better.
The Niro EV was Popular Mechanics’ Car of the Year 2019 because the magazine thought the Niro was an all-around better car, both among EVs and ICE vehicles. Four years later, the Niro is still a great car requiring very little maintenance.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Apparently, reliability is among the Miata’s strong suites. The MX-5 Miata is a beloved sports car known for its fun-to-drive road manners, thanks to a well-engineered chassis and punchy engine choices.
According to EnginePatrol, “the Mazda MX-5 Miata is a reliable and robust sports car that can last between 200,000 to 300,000 miles on average when properly maintained and driven conservatively.” They added that the Miata can last up to 20 years before needing any major repairs, assuming the car is driven an average of 15,000 miles per year.
Kia Optima/K5
The Kia Optima, now rebranded as the Kia K5 in 2021 for the U.S. market, flaunts a sportier design while retaining some of the Optima’s styling cues as well as a good deal of its predecessor’s reliability.
The final 2020 model got a 4 out of 5 score from RepairPal for its reliability. The 4 out of 5 RepairPal reliability score ranked the Optima an impressive number 8 out of 24 cars in the same category. The succeeding K5 continues this tradition with consistently positive ratings in reliability assessments and surveys.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Following its 2023 survey to determine who makes the most reliable new cars, Consumer Reports concluded that Lexus and Toyota lead the industry with predicted reliability scores of 79 and 76, respectively. This doesn’t surprise auto mechanics already familiar with Toyota’s solid reputation for reliability.
Vehicle History notes that the Corolla has legendary longevity, estimated to last a minimum quarter-million miles, while well-kept models typically make 300,000 miles. The gas and hybrid models are just as reliable because Toyota builds them with durable parts.
Lexus GX
Going by documented professional opinions, the Lexus GX, particularly the GX460, is a dependable SUV that has consistently proven its reliability over the years, but you probably want to avoid the all-new model if you want the best in Lexus GX reliability. REREV notes that the GX is “a sturdy SUV with a powerful engine that can handle loads and long trips.”
It’s not without its problems, as some models of the GX suffered from low-pressure fuel pump faults, prompting a recall of the 2014/2015 GX460 in 2020. Notably, the Lexus GX was Consumer Report’s most reliable new car for the 2021 MY.
Mini Cooper
Experts agree that the MINI combines its fun-to-drive style with commendable reliability, although the cost of fixing the car’s frequent pesky issues does add up. Nonetheless, the MINI enjoys the highest reliability rating in Europe’s automotive industry, partly because the automaker covers 94% of repairs and owners pay less than $125 (£100) overall.
The MINI scored a stunning 97.2% to post 3rd in WhatCar’s reliability survey 2023, placing it ahead of reputable brands like Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Honda, Hyundai, and BMW. Furthermore, MINI’s warranty provider, Warranty Wise, rated it “above average” for reliability.
Toyota Prius
The Prius is one of the early pioneers of hybrid technology and has built a reputation for longevity, low maintenance costs, and strong residual values. It is not without its issues, but expert reviewers support CR and JD Power’s historically high ratings of the car.
Additionally, many owners report high levels of satisfaction with the Prius, citing the low operating cost. Mechanics would not recommend the Prius if it didn’t have a durable battery. The nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery in earlier models and the lithium-ion battery in later models have proven to last beyond 100,000 miles.
Lincoln Corsair
Although CR predicts the 2023 Lincoln Corsair will be more reliable than the average new car, it wasn’t always that friendly with its ratings. For the 2020 model year, Consumer Reports gave the Lincoln Corsair an alarmingly low reliability rating of 1 out of 5 and repeated the prediction the following year.
Interestingly, actual Corsair owners didn’t care very much about the body integrity and power equipment issues primarily responsible for the low scores, as evidenced by CR’s own admission that 83% of surveyed Lincoln Corsair owners would buy it again.
Subaru Crosstrek
Coming to the market as a raised Subaru Impreza hatchback allowed the Crosstrek to appeal to a wider category of drivers and car shoppers, raising the all-important question of its long-term dependability. Judging by CR and JD Power’s ratings, the earlier models are not very reliable Crosstrek model years.
The Hybrid got the worst hit, earning an off-putting 2.5 out of 5 JD Power reliability score in 2014. Barely five years later, Subaru recalled 2.3 million cars, including the Crosstrek, due to a brake light sensor issue with a ripple effect throughout the car. However, the latest generations from 2020 are solid performers as they’d had many kinks and bugs worked out.
BMW 3 Series
Besides what CR and JD Power say, BMW of Greenwich is confident that the 3-Series BMW will last 200,000 to 250,000 miles. In fact, a community of people with hands-on experience with BMW agree that the engine is “virtually unbreakable” while admitting that owners are likely to end up replacing everything else attached to the engine at around 200,000 miles.
In other words, you’re least likely to experience engine-related serious issues with the car. Since skipping the first year of a car’s all-new model is generally considered smart, shoppers might want to avoid the 2006-2011 BMW 3 Series. That’s the 5th gen that recorded over a hundred complaints by owners.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey came 3rd among 8 minivans assessed by RepairPal, based on an above-average reliability score of 3.5 out of 5. The worst years, according to CoPilot Search, include 2002-2003, 2005-2007, 2012, 2014, and 2018. Even so, you can expect the Odyssey to provide up to 300,000 miles of faithful service with proper care, although CarParts warns about a possible transmission failure at around 100,000 miles.
While the transmission problems appear endemic on the Odyssey since the 1999 model year, Vehicle History affirms that the Honda Odyssey “dominates the minivan segment, with modern model years reaching 200,000 to 300,000 miles of longevity.”
Volvo XC60
Just about everyone familiar with the modern Volvo will tell you they’re pretty reliable, but they’ll also tell you that newer models like the XC60 are expensive to fix when something breaks. Something else of note is that the XC60’s numerous new techs make it prone to quickly getting outdated as newer technologies keep rolling out quicker than you can say “Volvo.”
That said, the 2019 XC60 luxury C-SUV earned positive feedback for its design, performance, and reliability following a long-term test by Car and Driver. It finished an impressive 3rd out of 24 cars in WhatCar?’s 2017 reliability survey with an overall score of 97.9%.
Lexus IS (2013-2021)
The passionate Redittors on /r/Lexus agree that the Lexus IS is a reliable luxury sedan, except for one Lexus technician who thinks the GS looked sportier. However, this user’s voice drowned in the chorus of praise for the IS, with words like “My 08 IS 350 lasted 13 years and 270k+ miles,” and “Can’t go wrong with the IS enjoy it!”
Furthermore, WhatCar? is confident in the Lexus IS’ reliability because the car is built solid and has few serious problems reported by owners, most of which were covered by Lexus warranty. In fact, only Suzuki was better than Lexus in WhatCar?’s 2023 survey of the most reliable brands.
Lexus NX
Vehicle History gave the 2021 NX a 10/10 reliability score, noting that the SUV can keep going strong for around 300,000 miles. VH’s assessment of the Lexus NX reinforced the SUV’s 5 out of 5 CR predicted reliability score in 2015 and an 87 out of 100 JD Power reliability rating in 2017.
The 2018 and 2019 models also returned excellent reliability ratings by CoPilot Search, recommending 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019 as the best NX model years. Ultimately, the Lexus NX is a dependable, compact luxury SUV.